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Preview: Munster v Treviso

06th January 2012 11:43

Munster s Peter O Mahony pro12 2011

Starting blindside for Munster: Peter O'Mahony

Munster have recalled their big guns for Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Benetton Treviso at Thomond Park Stadium.

With three of those who started against Ulster last week ruled out through injury, Munster coach Tony McGahan makes ten changes to his starting XV, one of those changes positional with Johne Murphy moving from left to right wing to accommodate the inclusion of Simon Zebo, who was rested last time out.

Murphy, who scored the final try of the night in Belfast, takes over from Luke O'Dea who scored Munster's opening try that night but sustained an ankle injury.

Niall Ronan returns to the openside and Peter O'Mahony also resumes at the expense of Dave O'Callaghan who gave another good account of himself in Ravenhill and drops to the bench.

Meanwhile, following the good win in the derby against Aironi last week, Treviso coach Franco Smith has resisted huge changes to Saturday's starting XV.

Manoa Vosawai replaces Robert Barbieri, who was hit hard on the face during the previous match.

On the bench, replacing the Fijian will be Enrico Pavanello, while the only other change among the replacements will be Matteo Muccignat for Pedro Di Santo.

Form: Munster's 17-33 reversal in Ulster on 30 December ended a three game winning streak. The Munstermen have lost just once at home in the RaboDirect PRO12 since April 2010: 13-17 to Ospreys at Thomond Park on 8 October 2011. Benetton Treviso have won two of their last three encounters in the RaboDirect PRO12, and have won three of their last four matches away from home in the tournament. Munster suffered a first ever loss to an Italian side when they last met Treviso at Stadio Monigo in February.

Rugby Union betting odds

The teams:

Munster : 15 Denis Hurley, 14 Johne Murphy, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Conor Murray, 8 James Coughlan, 7 Niall Ronan, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Paul O'Connell (c), 4 Donnacha Ryan, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Damien Varley, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements:16 Denis Fogarty, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Tommy O'Donnell, 21 Tomas O'Leary, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Danny Barnes.

Benetton Treviso: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Ludovico Nitoglia, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Brendan Williams, 10 Kristopher Burton, 9 Tobias Botes, 8 Manoa Vosawai, 7 Alessandro Zanni, 6 Gonzalo Padṛ, 5 Corniel Van Zyl, 4 Antonio Pavanello (c), 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Franco Sbaraglini, 1 Michele Rizzo.
Replacements: 16 Diego Vidal, 17 Matteo Muccignat, 18 Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet, 19 Valerio Bernaḅ, 20 Enrico Pavanello, 21 Simon Picone, 22 Edoardo Gori, 23 Alberto Di Bernardo.

Date: Saturday 7 January
Venue: Thomond Park
Kick-off: 20.15 GMT
Referee: Nigel Owen (WRU)

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